Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2426

c9.2426

2) The power of Sudarśana. Sudarśana flies up to the ranks of the enemies, burning like fire. Once Mahāviṣṇu sent the weapon Sudarśana towards the asuras. Then the havoc and destruction caused by this weapon, is described as follows : The moment he thought of Sudarśana, to destroy the rank of the enemy, it made its appearance like the Sun in the Solar region. It was a fearful sight. Emanating light and radiance from the blazing fire, the Sudarśana rested on the hand of Viṣṇu; turning round with a tremendous speed. Viṣṇu threw it at the enemies with his powerful hand like that of the trunk of an elephant, with a view to cleave the city of the enemies into pieces. That weapon which was burning in great flames like a great fire spreading radiance, flew into the midst of the enemy’s and instantly every one near it fell dead. Thus it flew about among the asuras and burnt them to ashes. Then turning round and round in the air it drank the blood shed on the earth. (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 19).